2012

At our 2012 Gala Celebration at CAPITALE on Monday, February 25, 2013 (rescheduled from November 14, 2012 due to the effects of Superstorm Sandy), New York Law School honored four very special honorees, all of whom have made New York Law School very proud. We had a spectacular night with over 500 people in attendance and over $1,000,000 raised.

Dean’s Award For Excellence In Leadership And Service

New York Law School expresses its deepest gratitude to our wonderful honorees and their guests, to the auction committee, to the staff and faculty of the Law School, and to all of the generous individuals and companies who made the evening possible.

On behalf of the entire New York Law School community, thank you for a successful Groundbreaking Gala!

ADVANCE JUSTICE FOR A DIVERSE SOCIETY

Hon. Ernst H. Rosenberger ’58, Of Counsel, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP and Vice Chair, New York Law School Board of Trustees

Justice Rosenberger’s distinguished career in the law is marked by concern for the rights of the disenfranchised. He volunteered his services in the defense of the “Freedom Riders” arrested in 1961 in Jackson, Mississippi, and he worked on public accommodation and voting rights cases throughout the South in the 1960s. Prior to joining Stroock in March 2004, Justice Rosenberger served as an Associate Justice of the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department, beginning in 1985. Prior to the Appellate Division, he served as Justice of the New York Supreme Court (1977-1985). During this period, he was the Presiding Justice of the Court’s Extraordinary Special and Trial Term for investigation of corruption in the criminal justice system. Justice Rosenberger also served as an Acting Justice of the New York Supreme Court (1973-1976) and a Judge in the Criminal Court of the City of New York (1972 –1976). Justice Rosenberger is a Vice Chair on the New York Law School Board of Trustees.

FOSTER INTEGRITY AND PROFESSIONALISM

Gerald C. Crotty ’76, President, Weichert Enterprise, LLC and Vice Chair, New York Law School Board of Trustees

Mr. Crotty co-founded in 2001, and currently directs, Weichert Enterprise LLC, a private equity concern with investments in power projects, business and industrial services and distressed banks. Previously, he held various executive positions with ITT Corporation, including President and Chief Operating Officer of ITT Consumer Financial Corporation and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of ITT Information Services. Prior to joining ITT, he served as Assistant Counsel, Counsel, and Secretary to the Governor of New York. Mr. Crotty was associated with the firm of Hawkins, Delafield & Wood upon his graduation from NYLS. He is a Vice Chair on the New York Law School Board of Trustees and is also a member of the Board of Fordham University. Mr. Crotty has served on numerous other boards including Rockland Capital Energy Investments, DFW Capital Partners, AXA Premier VIP Trust, Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp., and The Jones Group Inc.

EMBRACE INNOVATION

Ms. Rosicki and her husband transformed a vacant 12-acre parcel of land in Long Island’s North Fork into an award-winning vineyard. They are owners of Sparkling Pointe, New York State’s only winery dedicated to the production of sparkling wine. They have received numerous accolades from critics. At the prestigious 2009 San Francisco Chronicle wine competition, their 2000 Brut Seduction surpassed the reputable Californian French-rooted competition; their sparkling wine earned the Best of Class and Sweepstakes Award, unequivocally placing Long Island on the world map of sparkling wines for the first time. Sparkling Pointe was the first in New York State to receive 90 points from Wine Spectator for their Methode Champenoise wines. Ms. Rosicki is also founding partner of Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates. Ms. Rosicki serves on the board of directors of the Kosciuszko Foundation, and the Association for the Help of Retarded Children (AHRC) Realty board of directors. She is also active in the organizations “Help the Homeless” and “Gift of Life.”

DEAN’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE

Daniel John Oates ’86, Chief of Police, Aurora Police Department

Daniel John Oates ’86, Police Chief in Aurora, Colorado is responsible for the criminal investigation of the 2012 movie theater shootings in Aurora. He began his career with the New York Police Department in 1980. He started work as a street cop in the 19th Precinct, located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Chief Oates worked his way up the ladder while attending NYLS’ evening division. Later, as a senior executive, he commanded the Police Cadet Corps and then the Legal Bureau, where he directed a law office of 80-plus attorneys. By the end of his 21 year career, Chief Oates had become head of the Intelligence Division and was a member of the executive staff of Howard Safir, the New York City Police Commissioner. He arranged security for the 2000 U.N. Millennium Summit and was also in charge of U.S. presidential security arrangements. He finished his NYPD career as second-in-command of the city’s largest patrol borough, Brooklyn South, with 3,000 officers. He became Police Chief in Ann Arbor in August, 2001 and was named the city’s first Safety Services Administrator within a year. Chief Oates is a charter member of the federal Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council and is recognized among his peers as an expert in law enforcement intelligence matters.

New York Law School is grateful to the following Committee Members for their generous support: